[Mpls.St.Paul Magazine, July 19, 2019] The need for adolescent mental health programming emerged during Allina Health’s Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) in 2013, when student survey data showed a marked increase in the rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Experts across the health system met with local teens, later giving shape to what is now known as the Change to Chill (CTC) program.

Allina Health psychologist Dr. Lisa Herman joined Minnesota Public Radio News to talk about mental health and teens and how Allina Health’s Change to Chill program, an online resource that provides teens with techniques to manage stress in a healthy way, can help.

Northfield High School has been selected as one of 16 high schools in Minnesota and Wisconsin to participate in Change to Chill, an Allina Health
program to combat student anxiety. Click here to read the full story.

MINNEAPOLIS (April 22, 2019) — The 2018-2019 Change to Chill™ (CTC) School Partnership, which worked with nine area high schools, is coming to an end and a second cohort of schools has been selected.

Allina Health, through its CTC program, is helping teens manage stress and improve their mental well-being. CTC helps teens identify what is causing them stress and gives them tools and resources to care for their mental well-being and build resiliency. The program offers three key components: free, online mental well-being resources, community train-the-trainer sessions, and the CTC School Partnership. Reaching more than 100,000 teens, CTC is helping teens learn how to stress less and be well.

During the 2018-2019 school year, participating schools demonstrated a wide variety of engagement with CTC through student clubs, “chill weeks”, and the creation of designated spaces to de-stress. Based on preliminary program evaluation data, Allina Health is optimistic the CTC School Partnership positively impacts student mental well-being, including their knowledge of the topics presented on CTC and their confidence in coping with life stressors.

“We know when teens have the resources and support to stress less, they are more resilient and able to live fuller and happier lives,” said Susan Nygaard, manager of Allina Health’s Community Health Improvement. “Change to Chill works as a preventive measure to equip teens with tools and resources to better manage stress and anxiety.”

During the 2019-2020 school year the CTC School Partnership will be expanded to include 16 more area high schools. The high schools selected for the 2019-2020 CTC School Partnership are:

The 2019-2020 CTC School Partnership will provide selected schools with yearlong support from Allina Health, a train the trainer session tailored to school staff, outreach and engagement with parents and $1,000 towards creating a “Chill Zone” – a designated student space to de-stress.

To kick off the Partnership, Allina Health will select two teens from each of the 16 high schools to participate in a paid internship this summer. Students will lead the implementation of CTC during the upcoming school year.

“During the first year of the CTC School Partnership, we saw that engaging and supporting students to play a leadership role in creatively implementing CTC was key for school-wide success.” said Kaila Lillehei, Allina Health’s Community Health Program Coordinator, who oversees the CTC School Partnership. “Interns from each of the 2019-2020 Partnership schools will learn to become champions of CTC in their school, research and present recommendations for a Chill Zone, and develop an implementation plan to support their school’s unique community and culture. We’ve been so impressed with what teens have done so far and we’re excited to see what new and creative ideas emerge with our 16 new Partnership schools.”

The Change to Chill resources are free, easy to use and include ready-to-use lessons, activities, videos and digital collateral. Schools and communities interested in a training can submit a request form or email [email protected] with program questions.

River Falls High School is one of nine area high schools chosen to be part of Allina’s new “Change to Chill” school partnership.

The Change to Chill partnership is meant to support school-wide efforts to create a culture of mental wellbeing for students and staff.

“When teens have the resources and support to stress less, they are more resilient and able to live fuller and happier lives,” said Susan Nygaard, manager of Allina Health’s Community Health Improvement. “Change to Chill works as a preventive measure to equip teens with tools and resources to better manage stress and anxiety.”

“RFHS was lucky to receive a grant for ‘Change To Chill’ which partners with Allina Health,” said River Falls Renaissance Academy Director Taryl Graetz. “In our Youth Risk Behavior Survey students participated in last spring, students indicated some concern about increased anxiety and stress.”

High school can be a stress minefield. From sports, homework and activities… to the ever-present cellphones and social media, it’s not a huge shock that teens are stressed.

“Unfortunately, it is a growing problem,” says Susan Nygaard, a Community Health Improvement Manager with Allina Health.

Nygaard says Allina Health conducts community health assessments that consistently find stress as a top health concern for teens and their families. A few years ago, the company launched a website and created the Change to Chill campaign aimed at tackling the growing mental health crisis. For the 2018-2019 school year, Allina is partnering with nine select schools – including Coon Rapids High School – to turn the tide.